Suspended refractory bricks



y 17, 1966 B. E. VASSILIOU ETAL 3,251,324

SUSPENDED REFRACTORY BRICKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 6. 1964 Inventors 844.42 Wm, 1am? MM, W I z fl orneys y ,1966 B. E. VASSILIOU ETAL 3,251,324

SUSPENDED REFRACTORY BRICKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 6, 1964 ,ewwm

A ttorney y 1966 B. E. VASSILIOU ET AL 3,251,324

SUSPENDED REFRACTORY BRICKS Filed Oct. 6, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A ttorney;

United States Patent field, England, assignors to General Refractories Lim- 1 ited Filed Oct. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 401,777 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Jan. 29, 1964,

4 9 Claims. c1. 11o-99 This invention relates to refractory bricks, fired or unfired, metal-clad or unclad, adapted to be used in suspension to form the roof of a furnace.

The object of the invention is to provide a brick with simple suspension fittings, easy of application to the shaped refractory and requiring only such modification of the refractory shape as will avoid localised weakening, the fittings moreover being capable of engagement with various forms of hangers.

According to the present invention, a suspended refractory brick comprises in combination a refractory shape and two suspension fittings, each fitting consisting essentially of an inverted L of metal plate to provide a downwardly directed limb that contracts in width upwardly to its junction with the other limb, which is horizontally directed from said junction, the top of the refractory shape having a groove from side to side'to receive the horizontal limbs of the two fittings, the horizontal limbs being in mutually facing disposition in the groove, and the sides of the brick at which the ends of the groove emerge having shallow recesses that contract upwardly in width to correspond with and fit the edges of the downward limbs and deep enough to receive at least the thickness of said downward limbs, the fittings being perforated to provide suspension engagement by suspension means suitable to enter the perforations.

Because the downwardly directed limb of each suspension fitting contracts in width upwardly, and the recess into which it fits contracts similarly, the fittings cannot be withdrawn upwardly from the recess, which means that when'the assembled brick is suspended by engagement of the two fittings with suspension means the refractory shape cannot escape downwardly from the fittings.

The recesses are preferably deeper than the thickness of the downward limbs, so that the contact of the edges of the latter is removed somewhat from the side faces -of the refractory shape, with the result that the weighttransmission is correspondingly within the mass of the refractory shape, yet divided equally between the two fittings at locations that are sufficiently near the side faces for the brick to be well balanced in its suspended position.

The two suspension fittings are preferably identical, so that either side of the complete brick can be presented to the suspension means.' Since the bricks may. be quite heavy, say 15 lbs. to 22 lbs. each, their placing on the suspension means is simplified.

Apart from the balanced suspension obtained by the use of two suspension fittings, a safety factor is introduced, because failure of one fitting can leave the brick still engaged to the suspension means by the other.

Where the refractory shape is fired, but particularly where it is unfired (as with chemically bonded basic refractories), it may be provided with sheet metal cladding. Thus, a two-part cladding may be applied, each part fitting to one recessed side face of the refractory shape,

'leaving the recess exposed, and having wings, equal or edges that might be troublesome in the handling of the brick. Moreover, the turned-in portions of the cladding serve to retain the fittings in the recesses.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show two different forms of suspension fittings for use with two 'different forms of suspension means. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view in perspective of a metal-clad refractory shape of uniform overall section from top to bottom, provided with one of the forms of suspension fittings, together with an inverted T suspension means;

FIGURE 2 shows one of the suspension fittings of FIGURE 1 before it is bent into L-shape;

FIGURES 3, 4, and 5 correspond to FIGURE 2, but

show modified shapes of suspension fittings, before bending into L-shape;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical transverse section of the brick of FIGURE 1 as assembled and suspended by two of the T suspension means, the positions of two adjoining bricks also being shown;

FIGURE.7 isa perspective view of two such assembled bricks, in association with three of the T suspension means;

FIGURE 8 corresponds to FIGURE 1, but shows a metal-clad brick that is wider at the bottom than the top;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical transverse section, taken on the line ]X-IX of FIGURE 10, of a refractory shape as in FIGURE 1, provided with another of the forms of suspension fittings, together with a single hook suspension means; and

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation of the refractory shape of FIGURE 9, viewed from the left.

In FIGURE 1, a refractory shape 1, of overall uniform rectangular section from top to bottom, is formed at the top with a groove 2 extending between opposite sides 3, or rather between shallow recesses 4 formed in those sides. The edges 5 of each recess 4 contract upwardly from a horizontal bottom 6, and the width of the top of the groove 2 equals the top width of the recesses 4. However, the bottom 7 of the groove is much narrower than the top of the groove.

Each recess 4 receives an L-shaped suspension fitting 8, formed by bending along the line 9 (FIGURE 2) a metal plate 10 to form a downwardly directed limb 8A and a horizontally directed limb 8B. The plate 10 has a slot 11 intersected by the line 9, so that when the plate I is bent, the slot 10 extends along the horizontal limb 8B.

The ends 12 of the limbs 83 of the two fittings 8 nearly meet each other when the downward limbs 8A are placed in the recesses 4. The edges 13 of the limbs 8A contract upwardly in width, to fit the edges 5 of the recesses. Through the slot 11 in the downward limb 8A of either fitting 8 may then be introduced a T-shaped hanger member 14. The hanger has a horizontal bar 15 projecting in both directions from the bottom of a vertical bar 16 provided with a hook 17 for engagement with an overhead suspension bar 18 (FIGURE 6) of the furnace into the roof of which the suspended brick is to be incorporated. Each end of the horizontal bar 14 is of a length to extend to the inner end 12 of the horizontal limb 8B of the fitting 8, and, as shown in FIGURE 6, a second hanger 14 similarly engages the other fitting, so that the refractory shape 1 is suspended centrally by the two hangers. The groove 2 across the top of the shape 1 is deep enough to receive both the'thickness of the horizontal limbs 83 of the fittings 8 and alsothe depth of the horizontal bars inserted below those limbs.

FIGURE. 1 also shows two parts 19 of sheet metal cladding, with sides 20 to fit the sides 3 of the shape 1, one long side 21 to fit one side 22 of the shape 1 and one short side 23 to overlap'the long side 21 of the other part and to be secured to it by welding 24 (FIGURE 7). Although the short side 23 is shown outside the long side 21, it could however lie inside it. Each side 20 has a recess 25, with upwardly contracting side edges 26, turned in to fit the edges of one recess 4, and a turnedin bottom edge 27 to fit the bottom 6 of the recess. As appears from FIGURES 6 and 7, the turned-in edges 26, 27 of the cladding serve to retain the fittings 8 in the recesses 4, because the downward limbs 8A of the fittings cannot pass these edges.

Instead of there being one hanger 14 for each brick, as in FIGURES 6 and 7, the hangers 14 could have their bars v long enough at each end to pass under the horizontal limbs 88 of both fittings 8 of each brick, so that two adjoining bricks could be suspended by a single hanger. Whether one hanger per brick, or one hanger for two adjoining bricks, each brick is suspended centr-ally and symmetrically by its-two fittings 8, and failure of one fitting would still leave the brick suspended by the other fitting.

The recesses 4 in the shape 1 need to be no more than quite shallow, so that their existence does not give rise to any material weakening of the top of the shape, nor does it introduce any zones of incipient weakness in the refractory. Moreover, because the groove 2 across the top of the refractory shape converges sharply from its width at the top face to its narrow bottom 7, there is minimum reduction of section of the refractory material at the level of the bottom of the groove, where the stresses arising in the brick from its suspended condition could be expected to be greatest.

The upwardly contracting width of the downward limb 8A of the fittings 8 in FIGURES 1 and 2 is symmetrical. It may however be formed by asymmetrical tapering of the edges of the limb, as in FIGURE 3, so that the limb (as also the recess 4 to receive it in the refractory shape) is trapezoidal as viewed from the side of the brick. Again, the tapering may cease short of the top of the downward limb 8A, as in FIGURE 4, the remainder being parallel-sided into the horizontal limb 8A. Yet again,

' the contraction may be abrupt, as by a T-shaped downward limb 8A, as in FIGURE 5.

In FIGURE 8, the refractory shape 1 is wider at its bottom face 1A than at its top face 1B, and the sides of the cladding parts 19 taper to correspond with the resulting tapering of the sides 3 of the shape 1, the sides 22, 23 of course following that taper. Between rows of such suspended bricks of greater width at the bottom, intermediate rows of bricks of narrower width at the bottom may be simply supported by wedging engagement with the suspended rows.

In FIGURES 9 and 10, a refractory shape 1, as in FIGURE 1, is provided with two suspension fittings 8 each having a downward limb 8A to fit a recess 4 and a horizontal limb 8B that continues into an upturned upright extension 8C, with a slot 1 1, the slots of the two fittings registering to receive the horizontal arm 15 of a hook hanger 14, so that the weight of the refractory shape 1 is taken centrally and symmetrically by both of the fittings 8 from the single hanger 14. This engagement of the hanger 14 to two fittings 8 helps to counter tilting of the brick under pressure created on one side as the result of uneven heating and expansion of the refractory. Although in this case the groove 3 across the top of the refractory only receives the thickness of the two horizontal limbs 8B, it may nevertheless still be deep enough to receive also the horizontal arm 15 of the T-shaped hangers 14 of FIGURES 1, 6, 7, and 8, for use with fittings 8 having the slots 11 in their horizontal and downward limbs, so that in fact the same grooved and recessed refractory shape may be used with either combination of fitting and hanger.

The shape 1 is shown without any metal cladding in FIGURES 9 and 10, but it could be provided with clad- 4 ding in the manner of the bricks shown in FIGURES 1, 6, 7, and 8, just as those bricks could also be used without cladding. Moreover, although the cladding parts 19 are shown with unequal sides or wings 21, 23, these could be equal or substantially equal in width.

In the case of the L-shaped fittings 8 with the slots 11 in their limbs 8A, 8B to receive the bars 1 5 of hangers 14, the fittings are contained wholly within the overall dimensions of the complete brick, which facilitates stacking the bricks, whether on pallets or otherwise in transport to the customer or to the point of use, and lessens the risk of damage to the bricks. Unclad bricks may be prepared with the fittings 8 heldin place in the recesses 4 of the shapes 1 by adhesive, e.g., by adhesive tape, or they may be supplied loose, to be applied to the grooved and recessed refractory shapes by the user.

What we claim is:

'1. A refractory brick for use in suspension, comprising in combination a refractory shape and two suspension fittings, each fitting being of metal plate bent into L-form and applied inverted to the refractory shape so as to present one limb of the L downwardly directed and the other limb horizontally directed from their mutual junction, the downward limb contracting in width upwardly towards the junction, the top of the refractory shape having a groove from side to side, and the horizontal limbs of the two fittings being received in the groove with their ends in mutually facing disposition, and the sides of the brick at which the ends of the groove emerge having shallow recesses that contract upwardly in width to correspond with and fit the edges of the downward limbs of the respective fittings and are deep enough to receive at least the thickness of said downward limbs, and the fittings being perforated to provide suspension engagement for the brick by any suspension means suitable to enter the perforations.

2. A refractory brick as in claim 1, wherein the recesses are deeper than the thickness of the downward limbs, so that the contact of the edges of the latter is re moved somewhat from the side faces of the refractory shape.

3. A refractory brick as in claim 1, wherein the bottom of the groove is narrower than the top of the groove, with smooth divergence of the sides of the groove from bottom to top.

4. A refractory brick for use in suspension, comprising in combination a refractory shape and two suspension fittings, each fitting being of metal plate bent into L-form and applied inverted to the refractory shape so as to present one limb of the L downwardly directed and the other limb horizontally directed from their mutual junction, the downward limb contracting in width upwardly towards the junction, the top of the refractory shape having a groove from side to side, and the horizontal limbs of the two fittings being received in the groove with their ends in mutually facing disposition, and the sides of the brick at which the ends of the groove emerge having shallow recesses that contract upwardly in width to correspond with and fit the edges of the downward limbs of the respective fittings and are deep enough to receive at least the thickness of said downward limbs, and each suspension fitting being perforated by a slot extending downwards in the downward limb from the junction with the horizontal limb and extending inwards in the horizontal limb from said junction, the combination including also at least one inverted T-shaped hanger having its crossbar of a thickness to pass through the slot in one fitting to engage under the end of at least the end of the horizontal limb of the fitting through the slot in which the crossbar is passed.

5. A refractory brick for use in suspension, comprising in combination a refractory shape and two suspension fittings, each fitting being of metal plate bent into L-form and applied inverted to the refractory shape so as to present one limb of the L downwardly directed and the other limb horizontally directed from theirmutual junction, the downward limb contracting in width upwardly towards the junction, the top of the refractory shape having a groove from side to side, and the horizontal limbs of the two fittings being received in the groove with their ends in mutually facing disposition, and the sides of the brick at which the ends of the groove emerge having shallow recesses that contract upwardly in width to correspond with and fit the edges of the downward limbs of the respective fittings and are deep enough to receive at least the thickness of said downward limbs, and each suspension fitting having an extension of its horizontal limb, said extension being upturned into upright position and containing a perforation for engagement by any suitable suspension means.

6. A refractory brick as in claim 5, wherein the upturned extensions of the two suspension fittings lie side by side, with their perforations in register for engagement by a single suspension means.

7. A refractory brick for use in suspension, comprising in combination a refractory shape, two suspension fittings, and a sheet metal cladding, each suspension fitting being of metal plate bent into L-form and applied inverted to the refractory shape so as to present one limb of the L downwardly directed and the other limb horizontally directed from their mutual junction, the downward limb contracting in width upwardly towards the junction, the top of the refractory shape having a groove from side to side, and the horizontal limbs of the two fittings being received in the groove with their ends in mutually facing disposition, and the sides of the brick at which the ends of the groove emerge having shallow recesses that contract upwardly in width to correspond with and fit the edges of the downward limbs of the respective fittings and are deep enough to receive at least the thickness of said downward limbs, the metal cladding. enclosing the sides of the refractory shape but notched to correspond with the recesses in the sides that receive the downward limbs of the suspension fittings, and the fittings being perforated to provide suspension engagement for the brick by any suspension means suitable to enter the perforations.

8. A metal-clad refractory brick as in claim 7, wherein the sheet metal cladding is in-turned round its notches to fit the sides of the recesses in the refractory shape, so as to retain the downward limbs of the fittings in the recesses.

9. A metal-clad refractory brick as in claim 8, wherein the sheet metal cladding is also in-turned to fit the bottoms of the recesses.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS' 3,170,420 2/1965 Palacio 110-99 3,181,487 5/ 1965 Drake 11099 FOREIGN PATENTS 927,632 5/ 1963 Great Britain.

FREDERICK KETTERER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A REFRACTORY BRICK FOR USE IN SUSPENSION, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A REFRACTORY SHAPE AND TWO SUSPENSION FITTINGS, EACH FITTING BEING OF METAL PLATE BENT INTO L-FORM AND APPLIED INVERTED TO THE REFRACTORY SHAPE SO AS TO PRESENT ONE LIMB OF THE L DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED AND THE OTHER LIMB HORIZONTALLY DIRECTED FROM THEIR MUTUAL JUNCTION, THE DOWNWARD LIMB CONTRACTING IN WIDTH UPWARDLY TOWARDS THE JUNCTION, THE TOP OF THE REFRACTORY SHAPE HAVING A GROOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AND THE HORIZONTAL LIMBS OF THE TWO FITTINGS BEING RECEIVED IN THE GROOVE WITH THEIR ENDS IN MUTUALLY FACING DISPOSITION, AND THE SIDES OF THE BRICK AT WHICH THE ENDS OF THE GROOVE EMERGE HAVING SHALLOW RECESS THAT CONTRACT UPWARDLY IN WIDTH TO CORRESPOND WITH AND FIT THE EDGES OF THE DOWNWARD LIMBS OF THE RESPECTIVE FITTINGS AND ARE DEEP ENOUGH TO RECEIVE AT- 